USDA regulations 7 CFR Part 15b require substitutions or modifications in school meals for children whose disabilities restrict their diets. A child with a disability must be provided substitutions in foods when that need is supported by a statement signed by a licensed physician. The physician’s statement must identify:

• The child’s disability

• An explanation of why the disability restricts the child’s diet

• The major life activity affected by the disability

• The food or foods to be omitted from the child’s diet

• The food or choice of foods that must be substituted

Report all allergies and sensitivities on the medical forms in Powerschool and notify the school nurse of all changes.

Please start by filling out the Meal Accommodation form. It must be signed by a licensed medical authority before submitting it to using this Meal Accommodation Set Up Link.

Our Registered Dietitian will reach out after processing with any further questions and instructions. Please allow up to 2 weeks depending on availability and plan to provide a meal for your child until you receive verification that the accommodation request has been reviewed and the appropriate Child Nutrition team members have been trained on safe procedures for serving your student.

Please plan on reassessing your student’s medical needs as they move schools and grade levels to ensure that we have the most accurate information on file and at the correct school.

If your student no longer needs a meal accommodation, or if your student’s needs have changed, please submit a change/discontinuation of diet form here.

We do our best to ensure that all our kitchens at our elementary schools are peanut and tree-nut-free. Please be aware that middle schools and high schools serve homemade peanut butter and jelly sandwiches several days a week.

Note that other students may bring allergenic foods from home as we do not control what students can bring to eat.

Per USDA and state-issued guidelines, every student must be offered milk or a suitable milk alternative. Students do not have to take milk as long as they have enough of the required components for their meal.

In order to provide a milk alternative other than soy milk, it must be specified on the meal accommodation form. Water is always available in or near the cafeteria.

Students, Staff, and Parents can check our online menus for specific information regarding the items served at meals. Utilizing the filters can help to identify items that may contain certain allergens and items (including pork and meat products).

Carbohydrate counts are available on all items using the online menu through Linq Connect. Variety items will show an average of all items served. For questions on specific items, reach out to our school nutrition staff at the district office at: Nutrition@westada.org

School Nutrition Programs are encouraged to consider children’s cultural, religious, and ethical preferences when planning menus but to make a substitution to the menu, a signed meal accommodation form must be on file with the district. To utilize offer-versus-serve, School Nutrition Staff Members can direct students to the items they can take if they are given notice of what their restriction is. Students will still need to follow the USDA guidelines for meal components and item requirements unless a meal accommodation is signed and on file. Further information can be provided by inquiring with the menu planner for the district who can be reached at Nutrition@westada.org.

Disclaimer: While our staff is thoroughly trained in procedures to eliminate cross-contact with allergens, we must acknowledge that the possibility of an allergen being present in our meals cannot be completely eliminated. Our kitchens follow strict protocols to reduce the risk of allergen cross-contact; however, due to the nature of food preparation and the potential for shared equipment, we cannot guarantee a completely allergen-free environment. In the event of an allergic reaction, we have a comprehensive emergency protocol in place to address and manage such situations promptly. We encourage parents and guardians to remain vigilant and to discuss any specific concerns directly with our staff. For detailed inquiries, please contact our School Nutrition team at nutrition@westada.org.